Theatre 308’s Fall Drama Puts a Twist On The Simpsons

Theatre 308’s latest production is called “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play” by Anne Washburn. The play is directed by English and Drama teacher Mr. Andrew Rejan, who has directed the fall drama for four years.

The play is set in a post-electric world where survivors distract and entertain themselves by remembering “The Simpsons” episode “Cape Feare” and other pop culture phenomenons that existed before the electricity went out. The survivors sit by a campfire and try to piece together “Cape Feare”.

The second act is set seven years later where theatre troupes form and perform live versions of reimagined pop culture. The shows use some set pieces such as car fronts and portable walls but light is still provided from outside.

The third act occurs 75 years later and the live shows have evolved into a pop-opera musical with some electricity restored. As the pop-opera goes on, more lights begin to turn on. A post-electric world is set in the present where a huge global catastrophe occurs and there is no electricity left. It is interesting to think that for DHS students and some teachers, “The Simpsons” has been apart of American culture for all of our lives. To see it being reimagined will be interesting because we all have a set image of “The Simpsons” in our minds.

Auditions began on September 11 and the cast list was officially posted on the Theatre 308 bulletin board on September 14. Matt Groening, the creator of “The Simpsons”, is being played by junior Nick Giotis, senior Larsen Klein is Jenny, and sophomore Perrin Trask is Maria. Other actors are playing Simpsons characters that are in the pop-opera, such as Homer, Marge, Lisa, Sideshow Bob, etc. The actors who are playing “The Simpsons” characters are wearing costumes that make them look like the characters. Since the actors are living in a post-electric world, they wear beat-up costumes that have been repaired. The costumes will look like they were repaired over time.

“Mr. Burns” does not involve only actors. Theatre 308 has many parts to it that contribute to the productions they make. Junior James Cherico is the stage manager and junior Harrison Nicholls is the assistant stage manager. Set crew has to paint and decorate sets to look old and rusty. As Technical Education teacher and Set Crew adviser Mr. Rich Reynolds stated, the first act will look “minimalistic” and as time goes on the sets become more “polished”. Mr. Reynolds said, “[Set crew will build] lots of rusted car parts and things a travelling show will pick up on the way.” The set crew will also use scaffolding and other components to “dress up” an abandoned feel. There will be many props such as candles, old purses, etc. that the survivors pick up.  The set has to look dreary and bleak but the actors do not have to be. “The Simpsons episodes are all upbeat,” Mr. Reynolds said. “[The show] is a perfect example of what people would talk about.”

It will be difficult to combine all the parts of 308 together, especially because the play is three acts. Mr. Rejan said, “ [“Mr. Burns”] challenges all parts of 308 to work together to create an unconventional and surprising story.” The energetic acting and relationships between characters will be interesting to see. “The relationships in Mr. Burns are very cool just because they’re always being reworked,” CHerico said. Other actors and stage crew members are also excited to see how the relationships unfold.

The acts represent a passage of time and are essential to the show because they show how the story of “Cape Feare” evolves throughout the play. “The show investigates the sense of what power stories have as entertainment and meaning,” Mr. Rejan said. These acts represent how a story can evolve over time with different storytellers and media. The actors portray the change between an early age of a post-electric world and an age where some electricity is restored.

The show asks the audience a question: what do we hold on to from pop culture and how can it evolve? The actors add noticeably innovative elements to “The Simpsons” such as a live performance, singing, and dancing. Mr. Rejan said, “Working with a contemporary piece provides a different experience than a classic play.” Most of the fall dramas have been classical plays and the script itself challenges the form of a typical fall production.

Come see the show on November 17th, 18th, and the 19th at 7pm!

(Photos by Harrison Nicholls)